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Some elements are essential, meaning that the absence of a given mineral element will cause the plant to fail to complete its life cycle; that the element cannot be replaced by the presence of another element; and that the element is directly involved in plant metabolism (Arnon and Stout, 1939). However, this principle does not leave any room for the so-called beneficial elements, whose presence, while not required, has clear positive effects on plant growth.

Plants require specific elements for growth and, in some cases, for reproduction.

The mnemonic for the elements essential to plant growth is:

CHOPKN'S CaFe Mg MoB CuMnZn

or

C-Hopkins Cafe. Mighty Good. Mob comes in.

Major nutrients include:
C = Carbon 450,000ppm
H = Hydrogen 60,000ppm
O = Oxygen 450,000ppm
P = Phosphorus 2,000ppm
K = Potassium 10,000ppm
N = Nitrogen 15,000ppm
S = Sulfur 1,000ppm
Ca = Calcium 5,000ppm
Fe = Iron 100ppm
Mg = Magnesium 2000ppm

Minor Nutrients:

Mo = Molybdenum 0.1ppm
B = Boron 20ppm
Cu = Copper 6ppm
Mn = Manganese 50ppm
Zn = ZincZinc is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. Notable characteristics Zinc is a moderately reactive metal that will combine with oxygen and other non-metals, and will react with dilute acids to release hydro 20ppm
Cl = ChlorineChlorine (from Gr. Chloros meaning "pale green"), is the chemical element with atomic number 17 and symbol Cl . It is a halogen, found in the periodic table in group 17. Chlorine gas is greenish yellow, is two and one half times as heavy as air, has an in 100ppm

Concentration of ppm (parts per million) represents the dry weight of a representative plant.

Additional elements include nickelThis article is about the element nickel. See also nickel (U. coin) and nickel (Canadian coin). Nickel is a metallic chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Ni and atomic number 28. Notable characteristics Nickel is silvery white metal and siliconSilicon is the chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Si and atomic number 14. A tetravalent metalloid, silicon is less reactive than its chemical analog carbon. It is the second most abundant element in the Earth's crust, making up 25, whose requirements are vague for all but a very few select plants. Cobaltiron cobalt nickel Co Rh Full table General Name, Symbol, Numbercobalt, Co, 27 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 9, 4, d Density, Hardness 8900 kg/m3, 5. 0 Appearance metallic with grey tinge Atomic properties Atomic weight 58. 933200 has proven to be beneficial to at least some plants, but is essential in others, such as legumesThe term legume has two closely related meanings in botany, a situation encountered with many botanical common names of useful plants whereby an applied name can refer to either the plant itself, or to the edible fruit (or useful part). Thus, "legume" can where it is required for nitrogen fixationNitrogen fixation is the process by which nitrogen is taken from its relatively inert molecular form (N) in the atmosphere and converted into nitrogen compounds useful for other chemical processes (such as, notably, ammonia, nitrate and nitrogen dioxide).. SeleniumSelenium is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Se and atomic number 34. This is a toxic nonmetal that is chemically related to sulfur and tellurium. It occurs in several different forms but one of these is a stable gray metallike and sodium may also be beneficial.

Plant nutrition is a difficult subject to understand completely, partially because of the variation between different plants and even between different species or individuals of a given clone. Elements present at low levels may demonstrate deficiency, and toxicity is possible at levels that are too high. Further, deficiency of one element may present as symptoms of toxicity from another element, and vice-versa.

Green plants obtain their carbohydrate supply from the carbon dioxide in the air by the process of photosynthesis.